It’s Australia Day, so make sure, if you get a chance, you have a nice barbecued lamb chop for lunch.
Or at least say ‘g’day’ to somebody for me!
First, yes, Australia Day is considered ‘Invasion Day’ by some Aboriginal groups, which I suppose is fair enough, but not sure if we’re supposed to feel guilty about it.
And yes, Australia Day lately seems to be a chance to tell Australians how racist they are, but… well… I figure just being nice to each other should be more than enough. I read the other week that Australians are generally very accepting. They’ll be mates with anybody no matter what religion or nationality… until they start trying to stuff that religion or nationality down our throats! Heheh… probably true!
But no, as I said on other Australia Day strips, if you don’t know some bloke’s name cos it’s hard to pronounce, just pronounce it ‘mate’ and you’re half way there. Either way, I’m waving the flag today no matter who thinks I’m a redneck for doing so!
Also, I posted a blog post about the 1,111th strip last update over at the School Spirit blog site, and also included a big thanks to all of you who have been a part of School Spirit in whatever capacity over the years. Go give it a read it you enjoy the strip. Your patronage is highly appreciated!
Cheers, and don’t forget about that lamb chop!
I think that should be “bogan” not “redneck”
Heheh. You may be right. Bogan tends to be a more endearing term, though. I don’t mind being a bogan every now and then. :)
Being called the name of an Earth-affiliated faerie creature known for hiding small objects and causing small earthquakes is endearing?
Here you go – Wikipedia has e ‘Bogan’ entry! Of course it does, Wikipedia has everything! – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogan
Hey Mr. V, I noticed something today. The link to your blog on the top bar has a punctuation mark missing and gives an error when you click on it. I found out today when I attempted to click through. It currently reads http// instead of http://.
Now… what subject was it you teach? }:)
Clearly not Web Design! Found the error – it was a little more messed up than just a missing :, but it works now. Thanks for finding it! :)
I like seeing examples of the prejudice of older generations failing to take root in the younger generations.
“Do you think we invaded you?”
“What do I know? I’m nine!”
Classic.
The London Natural History Museum has put a collection of drawings & paintings from the First Fleet on line at;
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/art-nature-imaging/collections/first-fleet/
It covers: Natural History, Ethnography, Topography, & History
Hope it might be of interest to some readers.
Thanks for the link, Terry. Good to hear from you again, too. Go read, people. Learn something more! :)
Although Australia wasn’t actually the day the First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay. It was actually the day 8 days later when they decided Botany Bay wasn’t suitable for a landing and sailed into what would later be Sydney Cove and Port Jackson that Australia commemorates. Close. :)
The Aboriginal groups who call it “Invasion Day,” like those who wring their hands over the colonization of the New World and/or the settling of other lands by people not indigenous to the land need to (a) stop trying to put 21st century morals on things that happened centuries ago – analogous to saying men were chauvinist in a time when “chauvinism” wasn’t even thought of and (b) study the history of mankind – weaker nations and peoples were and always have been overcome and assimilated into stronger ones. It’s not because one group is evil or any of the other terms used – it’s the nature of mankind and happened even within the groups who eventually were assimilated themselves.
Happy Australia Day to you, mate!
Can’t say I completely agree, but that’s fair enough. I have no issue with it being named ‘Invasion Day’ if certain groups feel that’s the case, but to most people Australia Day is a wholly inclusive commemoration, not a political football.
Oh, and if anyone saw the news clips of one certain ‘disturbance’ that happened in Canberra yesterday around an issue like this, just remember that’s not who we are.
Also, yay! The Doctor made the 800th comment! :D
I hear you Mr. V. It’s probably very much the same as the annual hand wringing/demonizing that occurs like clockwork here in the States every Columbus day. You’d think the man was the Devil incarnate because he discovered the New World.
Political football and a LOT of misinformation/historical sugarcoating make for some seriously skewed views :)
Love this one, Dutch! And a child shall lead them, eh?
…for these are the things that children understand.